Notts music 2015

January 1 2015

2014 saw a sold out show at the Capital FM Arena by Jake Bugg, a Top 20 single for Indiana, critical acclaim for Ronika and Sleaford Mods, plus a two-month arena tour with Ed Sheeran for Saint Raymond. So what in store for Nottingham musicians in 2015?

THERE has been no date set for Jake Bugg’s third album but you could bet your house on Nottingham’s biggest music star releasing it by the end of the year.

Remember, Shangri La followed just a year after his No. 1 self-titled debut but that was at the end of 2013.

While touring the world this year, the 20-year-old (he turns 21 in February) has been crafting new music, playing a number of fresh tunes at gigs such as Looking Down The Alley and Hold On You.

We can also expect an arena tour to follow and a return to the Capital FM Arena, which he played in February.

Snapping at his heels is Saint Raymond, 19-year-old Callum Burrows from Bramcote, who has been building momentum all year for the release of his debut album.

As well as three songs in the iTunes Top 30 (a fourth single Fall At Your Feet is out this week), he went on the road with Ed Sheeran for two months playing arenas across the UK and Europe, including two shows in Nottingham.

“2014 has been insane, all the shows, recording the album, and obviously the tour with Ed Sheeran,” he said, promising the album would be out “earlyish 2015”.

One would hope it lands before he plays his sell-out show at Rock City in February, only the second Notts artist to do that. The other? Jake Bugg, of course.

The album was finished months ago, as was the debut by his mates Amber Run, the anthemic guitar band who got together at uni in Nottingham.

They released three singles on RCA and a fourth, I Found, is due in January.

What we do have a date for is Indiana’s No Romeo album, which will be released on January 26.

The 27-year-old mum-of-two, who lives in Long Eaton, has had phenomenal support from Radio 1 this year, earning her a Top 20 single, Solo Dancing.

Don’t be surprised to see her at Splendour this summer after a year off from the festival when she joined the line-up for DHP Family’s new No Tomorrow festival in Wollaton Park last summer.

Expect more new music from Ronika, whose Selectadisc album picked up phenomenal reviews.

As did Sleaford Mods. The punk duo’s latest album Divide And Exit made a number of end-of-year polls including the NME and The Guardian. Their Rescue Rooms gig on January 27 is sold out.

Dog Is Dead, now called D.I.D., have been exploring a sludgier, if still melodic, sound. Hear them at The Bodega in March.

Notts-raised soprano Lucy Kay goes on tour with Britain’s Got Talent winners Collabro this month, including the Royal Concert Hall. The 25-year-old has been performing for celebrities and royalty, here and in Hong Kong, following the Top 20 success of her debut album, Fantasia.

Grime star Gino, who has a phenomenal following on social media, should break through this year.

Others expected to build on their success in 2014 are Gallery 47, who toured with Paul Weller; Joel Baker, who had Radio 1 support from Huw Stephens and Fearne Cotton; Harleighblu who played festivals across Europe, and guitar band Lacey, fresh from winning a support slot with James Blunt at the Capital FM Arena.

Notts music's week in the spotlight

May 14 2014

NOTTINGHAM musicians have been experiencing national attention again this week, with the likes of Saint Raymond, Indiana and Jake Bugg entering the charts and being played on Radio 1.

Saint Raymond’s latest EP, Ghosts, was at No. 4 on the iTunes chart yesterday.

The 19-year-old from Bramcote, real name Callum Burrows, said: “Getting in to the Top 5 is a real honour. I had no expectations for the EP so it’s great!”

His last EP, Young Blood, peaked at No. 3, while his debut Escapade, reached No. 24. Unfortunately, EPs aren’t eligible for the Official UK Singles Chart due to the extra tracks that are included.

The musician, who played the Great Escape Festival in Brighton at the weekend, recently returned from Los Angeles, his second trip there.

“I’ve been working on my debut album out there. I’m heading back on Thursday.”

As well as playing Nottingham’s Dot To Dot Festival at the end of May, which takes place across city venues, including Rock City and the Rescue Rooms, in October he’ll be opening for Ed Sheeran’s two shows at the Capital FM Arena.

“I can’t wait,” he said. “Two shows with him in my home city is going to be a bit surreal but that’s so exciting.”

This week Callum has been in session on Radio 1 with Huw Stephens. Last night he played his biggest headline show to date at the Scala in London.

On the current iTunes chart is Jake Bugg’s latest EP, Messed Up Kids, at No. 18.

The 20-year-old has just announced his most high profile tour to date, playing the likes of Cardiff Arena, Liverpool Echo 2 and Alexandra Palace in London throughout October, before heading off to the US on a tour supporting blue rock duo the Black Keys.

The Clifton chart-topper, who has been all over the world touring in support of his second album, Shangri La, told his 400,000 Twitter followers: “What a long tour that was, went to some great places though, thank you all very much, look forward to seeing you all soon!”

In the past two weeks alone he’s played Australia, South America and Japan.

Jake is also lined up for some major summer festival appearances including Glastonbury and Reading/Leeds Festivals.

There are no new dates for his home city yet, to follow his sell-out at the Capital FM Arena in February.

Messed Up Kids is taken from Shangri La, the follow-up to his self-titled No. 1 debut, which has sold over a million copies.

Indiana, who is currently in the studio working on her debut album, recently enjoyed a Top 20 single with Solo Dancing, which is still in the Top 100 and continues to be played on Radio 1.

The 26-year-old Long Eaton mum-of-two has been confirmed for a string of summer festivals including Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Glasgow (where Saint Raymond is also to appear), Bestival and Nottingham’s newest festival, No Tomorrow, at Wollaton Park in June.

George Akins, boss of DHP Family, which organises the festival, plus Splendour and Dot To Dot and is also Indiana’s management company, said: “Both Indiana and Saint Raymond are enjoying success now which is really exciting. You’ve also got Amber Run coming through, Kagoule, Georgie Rose, Ady Suleiman... there’s more to come.

“It’s the beginning of something much bigger. The Nottingham scene will just grow and grow.”

Other recent successes include Joel Baker’s Every Vessel EP reaching No. 6 in the iTunes Singer Songwriter chart, 80s dance pop revivalist Ronika being played on Made In Chelsea and Kagoule being playlisted on Radio 1.